Electric lamps



Aug. 19, 1958 L. SPATARO 2,848,643

ELECTRIC LAMPS Filed May 26, 1955 i 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 F1575- 32 I6 El Z7 Z5 /5 571. f [y .zz *1/5 2 /5 i Q 42 )yf/5 L INVENTOR. I EL?) l d [72 BY UCV PATARo 11g- 19, 1958 L. sPATARo 2,848,643

ELECTRIC LAMPS Filed May 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. LUCY SPATARO United States Patent() .ELECTRIC LAMPS Lucy Spataro, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 26, 1955, Serial No. 511,351

2 Claims. (Cl. 313-318) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric lamps.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved electric lamp which can be used either in the conventional manner in any electric light socket or secured directly to two Wires or cords connected with a source of electricity.

As a further object, the present invention proposes forming the electric lamp with a conductor ring Vadapted to screw into any conventional socket :and with an insulated ring adapted to extend beyond the conductor ring and to house wire piercing prongs for direct tapping of wires or cords.

Still further, the present invention proposes forming the lamp with an insulator cap having wire pressing means adapted to overlie the prongs when the cap is on the insulator ring to force the prongs in wires or cords.

For further comprehension .of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electric lamp constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cap shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the structure shown in Fig. l with the cap and wires removed.

Fig. 4 is Ia top plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 1 with the cap removed and the wires shown in dotdash outline.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on Iline 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is `a view similar to Fig. 5 but illustrating a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing only a cap and illustrating another modification of the invention.

The electric lamp, in accordance with the iirst form of the invention illustrated in Figs. l to 6, inclusive, is designated generally by the reference numeral 15. l

Lamp has a bulb 16 of glass, plastic or the like. The bulb may be frosted or clear and colored or black or White as desired. A filament 17 (Fig. 5) is disposed in the bulb 16 and a base 18 of insulator material is secured to the bulb.

A pair of lead-in members or wires 19 and 20 extend through the base into the bulb and a threaded metal conductor ring 21 is secured to the base. Conductor ring 21 is mounted on the Ibase and spaced from the bulb on the base with the insulator base portion 22 between the threaded conductor ring 21 and the bulb. Conductor ring 21 is connected with lead-in member 19.

Extending from the base 18 and lbeyond the threaded metal conductor ring 21 is an insulator ring 23 of smaller diameter than the conductor ring 21. The insulator ring 2,848,643 Patented Aug. 19, 1958 23 has external threads 24 and spaced wire passage openings 25, 26, 127 and 28.

An insulator cap 29 is provided with interior or internal threads 30 and adapted to t over the insulator ring 23. The threads 30 on the cap and the mating threads 24 on vthe insulator ring 21 provide means removably to hold the cap on the insulator ring.

Spaced pointed conductor prongs 31 and 32 are secured to the base 18 inside the insulator ring 23. Prong 31 is connected with lead-in member 19 and prong 32 is 4connected with the other lead-in member 20. A center post 33 extends from the base 18 inside the insulator ring 23 and a conductor strip 34 is secured to the top of the post 33 and connected with prong 32.

Insulator cap 29 is provided with an `annular internally disposed projection 35 which is placed so as to overlie the points of the prongs 31 and 32 when the cap 29 is on the insulator ring 23. Cap 29 also has a central recess portion 36 adapted to receive the center post 33.

The operation of lamp 15 is as follows: the lamp may be screwed into any conventional socket like any conventional lamp when the insulator cap 29 is removed. The threaded metal conductor ring 21 and the centrally disposed conductor strip 34 provide the usual two electric contacts for the conventional socket. However, when it is desired to tap directly onto an electric cord or two insulated wires 37 and 38, the lamp is placed on the wires with the wires extending through the spaced wire passage openings 25. 26, 27 and 28 in insulator ring 23. The wires will then be disposed over prongs 31 and 32. By screwing the cap 29 -on the insulator ring 23, the wire pressing 4projection 35 in the cap will bear against the wires 37 and 38 forcing the prongs 31 and 32 into the wires through the insulation thereon.

The modiiication of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is characterized by the provision of a lamp 48 having a bulb 41 with an insulator base 42 secured thereto. A filament 43 is provided in the bulb and a pair of lead-in members 44 and 45 extend through the insulator base into the bulb 41. A metal threaded conductor ring 46 is secured to the base and spaced from the bulb, an insulated base portion 47 being provided between the conductor ring 46 and the bulb. This insulated base por tion 47 is of larger diameter than the conductor ring 46. Conductor ring 46 is connected with lead-in member 45. An insulator ring 48 having spaced wire passage openings 49 extends from the base 42 beyond the conductor ring 46. An insulator cap 50 is provided for the insulator ring 48, the cap 58 being adapted to tit over the insulator ring. 48.

A threaded central post 51 is pre-vided on the base extending from inside the insulator ring 48 and a threaded stud 52 is centrally secured to the cap 59 to provide means removably to secure the cap over the inslulator rlng.

Space-d forked double-pointed conductor prongs 53 and 54 are secured to the insulator base 42 inside the insulator ring 48. Prong 53 is connected with lead-in member 44 and prong 54 is connected with the other lead-in member 45. In addition, prong 54 is connected with the conductor ring 46 and prong 53 is connected with a central conductor strip 55 which overlies the top of the central post 51.

Cap 50 has a wire pressing annular projection 56 disposed in the cap so as to overlie the prongs when the cap is on the insulator ring to force the prongs into insulated Wires or cords directly to tap such wires and cords.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 9 is characterized by the provision of a exible insulator cap 60 having a central threaded stud 61, annular wire pressing projection 62 and a skirt or rain Shield 63 with an i11- terior flexible seal 64.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modications may be made Within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.V 1 f Having thus described my invention, what VI Vclaim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. An electric lamp comprising a bulb with an insulator base permanently secured thereto, a larnent in the bulb and a pair of lead-in members extending through the insulator base into the bulb, a threaded conductor ring secured to the base and spaced from the bulb von the base with an insulator base portion between the threaded conductor ring and the bulb, said conductor ring being connected with one of said lead-in members, an insulator ring extending from the base beyond the conductor ring, said insulator ring having spaced Wire passage openings, an insulator cap adapted to tit over the insulator ring, means removably to hold the cap over the insulator ring, spaced pointed conductor prongs secured to the base in-Y side the insulator ring, one of 'said prongs being connected with one lead-in member and the other prong being connected with the other lead-in member, and wire pressing means in the cap adapted to overlie the prongs when the cap is on the insulator ring to force the prongs'into the Wires extending through the wire openings in the insulator ring, said means removable to hold the cap on the insulator ring being a threaded stud secured to the cap, said insulator base having a post with an opening centrally disposed inside the insulator ring removable to receive the stud, said prongs being forked and double-pointed, said post having a conductor strip over the top thereof and extending beyond the insulator ring, said strip being connected with the lead-in member other than that connected with said conductor ring.

2. An electric lamp comprising a bulb With an insulator base permanently secured thereto, a filament in the bulb and a pair of lead-in members extending through the insulator base `into the bulb, a threaded conductor ringsecured to the base and spaced from the bulb on the base with an insulator base portion between the threaded conductor ring and the bulb, said conductor ring being connected With one of said lead-in members, an insulator ring extending from the base beyond the conductor ring, said insulator ring havingspaced Wire passage openings, an insulator cap adapted to lit over the insulator ring, threaded means removable to hold the cap over the inl sulator ring, spaced pointed conductor prongs secured to the base inside the insulator ring, one of said prongs being connected with one lead-in member and the other prong being connected with the other lead-in member, and wire pressing means in the cap adapted to overlie the prongs when the cap is on the insulator ring kto force the prongs. into the wires extending through the Wire openings in the Y insulator ring, said wire pressing means being an annular projection on the cap, and a central post on the base inside the insulator ring extending beyond the insulator ring, said post having a conductor strip over the top thereof and connected with the lead-in member other than that one connected with said conductor ring, said prongs being forked and double-pointed, said cap having a skirt extend- 

